Milk supply - 11 weeks

[badgergirl]

Just as I thought I was getting to be a pro at breastfeeding, I think I've hit another problem. I say "think" because I'm not sure if it's simply in my head as we're having a bad week (OH thinks it is), or if it's real.

For the last week at feeds, Sprog has been coming off the boob as if finished quickly (max 10 mins per boob) then bouncing off and on my nipple frustratedly, or screaming and crying. It's not like his colicky cry - it sounds like pure frustration. I swap him over to the other, and the same thing happens.

For the past fortnight, he's been feeding every 3ish hours. My boobs never feel full anymore, and I haven't noticed the let-down sensation either. today he's been at my boob every 2 hours, and I'm exhausted, frustrated, and worrying myself sick that my milk's going.

Help?!

 

[LisaJ1986]

I have fights with Angel at every feed. She cries as soon as i get boob out these days, and she's on and off messing around for ages. In the end i give up. If she's hungry, she'll eat. I sometimes don't feel i have enough, but then decided it'll be a growth spurt day and a few days later i get that rush feeling in my boobs. It's just a case of perseverance. I get so close to giving up, but won't.

 

[flowergirl]

What you are experiencing has happened to almost all of us and that's why this forum- and Midna's amazing advice is soooo invaluable! Just persevere- as LisaJ said- if your LO is hungry he will eat- every 2 hours night and day sometimes! It is exhausting and it can be very frustrating but it is soo worth it. I feel proud that it is just because of my boobie milk that my LO is thriving and becoming a little chunk!

You are doing brilliantly - try not to worry

 

[badgergirl]

Thanks girls

It's so much easier to talk to people on here about problems than OH, because try as he might, he can't really understand what and why things are going through my head - he just thinks I'm being dramatic. I guess we're wired differently.

After seeing about feeding necklaces, I might look into getting one of those to help him concentrate more.

You're stars! xx

 

[flowergirl]

I'm pretty sure Kathryn needs a feeding necklace- or a blindfold! I can't watch TV anymore as I feed her as she likes to turn and watch it as she feeds- when she realises this doesn't work she just gives up on the feeding and watches TV!

 

[BabyMagic]

I am sure all is well. If you are worried though perhaps you could have him weighted as that would indicate if he is putting on weight enough???

Sometimes LO talks and smiles while she should be feeding but I just keep offering her my boob. At times she gets a bit upset but when I talk to her and swop the boob she usually gets back to feeding. Have you tried different positions? If I couldn't get LO to feed when she was younger I used to lie down on the bed to feed her as she seemed to prefer that.

Keep up the good work

 

[Squiglet]

At 11 weeks your supply is well established which is probably why your breasts don't feel so full and you don't feel your let down too much... They have become accustomed to the amount they are being used. The feeding every 2 hours is definitely a growth spurt and I seem to remember there being a big one around 12 weeks... Basically they stop being newborns and become babies. It also leads to frustration at not getting what they want, and messing around on the boob.

As Babymagic said... Try offering the other boob, I find that the faster flow on the other side often confuses lil miss and she will concentrate on her boob for a while. Otherwise you'll have to grim and bear it.. It actually gets worse around 4 months, when everything and everyone is more interesting than the boob... but they are still hungry and you have to make their hunger go away with the invisible detachable booby..

 

[badgergirl]

I've talked to the health visitor again today. Sprog's only on the 9th centile, at 11oz - but apparently he's in proportion size-wise.

However, my doc also reckons now that they didn't give me enough of a supply of iron when I was discovered to be anaemic after the birth. I've done some poking around on the internet, and it looks like anaemia is linked to a poor milk supply. I've got more iron tablets now, and I'm crossing my fingers the iron's going to boost my milk - does it work like that? And how long would I have to wait to see a difference?

I just feel guilty that I didn't find out before, or nag to have my blood tested again to make sure the anaemia had gone. I'd thought about it a couple of times, but I'm terrified of blood tests (fine with injections, tattoos, epidural, but taking stuff out? Nah) - if I ever thought of negative consequences of this, it was only ones for me, not for him. Poor little bugger.